On [[September 22]], [[Third Age 3018|T.A. 3018]], the night of the departure of [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and Sam from the Shire, [[Khamûl]], one of the [[Nazgûl]] rode up the lane, and asked the elderly hobbit about "[[Baggins Family|Baggins]]". A week later, he was visited by [[Gandalf]] who also informed about Frodo's whereabouts.<ref>{{FR|Meetings}}</ref>

On [[September 22]], [[Third Age 3018|T.A. 3018]], the night of the departure of [[Frodo Baggins|Frodo]] and Sam from the Shire, [[Khamûl]], one of the [[Nazgûl]] rode up the lane, and asked the elderly hobbit about "[[Baggins Family|Baggins]]". A week later, he was visited by [[Gandalf]] who also informed about Frodo's whereabouts.<ref>{{FR|Meetings}}</ref>

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When [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins|Lotho]] and eventually [[Sharkey]] took over the Shire, the Gaffer was evicted from Bagshot Row. After the [[Battle of Bywater]], in which he only had a marginal role, he moved back into the newly restored [[New Row]], while Sam moved into Bag End. He was looked after by the [[Widow Rumble]], and died in Fourth Age 7.<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref>

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When [[Lotho Sackville-Baggins|Lotho]] and eventually [[Sharkey]] took over the Shire, the Gaffer was evicted from Bagshot Row.<ref>{{RK|Scouring}}</ref> After the [[Battle of Bywater]], in which he only had a marginal role, he moved back into the newly restored [[New Row]], while Sam moved into Bag End. He was looked after by the [[Widow Rumble]], and died in Fourth Age 7.<ref>{{RK|Havens}}</ref>

Contents

History

Hamfast was born in 2926, the third son of Hobson Gamgee, who was a roper by trade. His mother's name is not known.[2]

He entered the service of his uncle, Holman Greenhand, and became a gardener. One of his first jobs was tending the garden of Bag End. On June 22, T.A. 2942, he and Holman tried frantically to keep the garden in order during the auction of the presumed-dead Bilbo Baggins.[1] It is likely that at this time he already lived at Number 3, Bagshot Row.

When Lotho and eventually Sharkey took over the Shire, the Gaffer was evicted from Bagshot Row.[4] After the Battle of Bywater, in which he only had a marginal role, he moved back into the newly restored New Row, while Sam moved into Bag End. He was looked after by the Widow Rumble, and died in Fourth Age 7.[5]

Inspiration

In Letter 257, J.R.R. Tolkien recounts a holiday to Lamorna Cave in the early 1930's. To amuse his sons, he named a local Gaffer Gamgee. This "curious local character" was "an old man who used to go about swapping gossip and weather-fashion and such like". The surname was chosen because it alliterated with Gaffer.

Tolkien had several encounters with actual Gamgees, however. Gamgee Tissue, a word young Ronald considered comical, was named after J. Sampson Gamgee (1828-1886), a famous Birmingham surgeon.[9] The Gamgees were notorious surgeons - years later, Dr. Leonard Gamgee tended those war-wounded, including Lieutenant Tolkien.[source?]